Mujica makes all-state freshman team
- Updated: July 24, 2021
Granite Hills' Sofia Mujica. / CS PRO PHOTO
By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer
CalHiSports, the leading authority on high school sports in California for more than 70 years, named Brynne Nally of Pacific High in Garden Grove as its top finish for the 2021 season.
The decision may have come down to a single game, according to CalHiSports historian Mark Tennis. Nally was in the circle to register one of two on-field victories by top-ranked Esperanza High of Anaheim, which finished the season with a 22-2 mark (not counting forfeits).
Nally finished with a 6-hit shutout in a 3-0 triumph over the Aztecs in a battle of Orange County’s top ballclubs.
According to CalHiSports, “for the season, Brynne brought the heat as a pitcher with a 16-3 record and 1.03 ERA facing elite, highest level competition. She struck out 107 in 122 innings. She also was in the batting order for most games and contributed a .326 batting average.”
“Two others who were considered were pitcher-hitter Cambria Salmon of Beaumont and slugging catcher Sofia Mujica from Granite Hills of El Cajon.”
The last State Freshman of the Year from Orange County was Tera Blanco from Marina of Huntington Beach in 2011. Pacifica has had one before, too. That was in 1994 when Toni Mascarenas of the Mariners got the nod.
Meanwhile, Mujica received notice after equaling the CIF San Diego Section single-season record with 17 home runs in 2021. She equaled the mark first established by Lisa Dodd of University City in 2003.
Dodd went on to an All-American career at UCLA and played for the U.S. National Team. As a professional player, Dodd also captured a European Championship among other titles and awards before embarking on a coaching career.
Along with her home runs, Mujica finished second in the Grossmont Conference in batting (.512 average) and total hits (42). She also placed third in the conference in doubles (8) and RBI (30).
With her lofty status in the state, obviously, Mujica was the East County Freshman of the Year
